Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-03-04
DUTIES OF SELECTMRN.
NJ easures That Should be Taken for the
Preservation of Public Health.

Preservation of Public Health.
The State Board of Health have issued
a pamphlet for the use of selectmen and
others stating the duties of selectmen in
relation to the pres ervation of public
health, and conveying other useful infor-
nation. The board say that selectmen,
by virtue of the duties expressly assigned
to them by the laws of the State, as above,
are really boards of health in each town
In corporated villages and cities, of course,
the trustee and aldermen have preferred
jurisdiction. Hence the State Board of
Health appeals to all selectmen and trus-
tees of villages and aldermen of cities, and
local boards of health wherever estab-
lished in the State, and all health
officers, to cooperate in the care for
the public health. But a very large
proportion of the most common dis
eases are unnecessary because they can
be prevented. AS matter of economy
alone it will pay to take thorough meas
ures to prevent the spread of all avodable
disease. Take for instance typhoid fever.
For the 10 years ending with 1854 there
were an average of 1874 deaths each year,
in this state. This according to ordinary
estimates would imply that there were, en-
an average, about 1000 cases of sickness
from this disease each year But take
only those who ordinarily would be able
to labor, that is those between the ages
of ID and 80. Among these there We're -
deaf his on an average each year, implying
400 cases of disease which recovered. Now
1t is well known that very few are able to
return TO work in less than 10 weeks
This would make 800 weeks labor lost
If the average of wages is 81 per day the
money value of the loss would be S27-
600.
And this is only one of the numerous
preventable diseases. Among the more
common diseases which are declared TO be
communicable and dangerous to the pub
lie health are smalIpo cholera, scarlet
fever measles, dlphtherla, typhoid fever,
typhus fever, yellow fever, spotted fever,
relapsing fever, epidemic dysentery, by
drophobia and CHAMBERS. Whenever any
of these diseases shall become developed
in any locality the fact of its existence
should he reported to the selectmen, or
other proper authority, who should at
once take active measures to prevent the
spread of the disease. The precautions
TO be taken vary somewhat according to
the disease In all cases of death from
smallpox, typhus fever, dlphtheria, scar
let fever or measles, the proper authority
should strictly forbid public or church
funeral
1t is doubtful whether diphtheria can
be transmitted through the atmosphere
surrounding patient. But it is certain
that the discharges from the throat and
nose do possess the power of producing
the disease, and it can be conveyed in
clothing and other articles. Hence all the
precautions necessary to be taken when
scarlet fever and measles are present
should be rigidly enforced, particularly as
to isolation and communication with fami-
lies IN which the disease exists AS it is
well known that filth and foul air from
whatever source have great influence to
increase the malignancy of diphtheria care
should be taken to have ali cellars, sinks, |
sewers, cesspoolS, privy wells, etc, thor |
oughly clean and efficiently disinfected.
The main source of typL old fever is the |
drinking water. Hence whenever "A case
of this disease occurs it is the duty of the |
selectmen, or other proper authority, to |
examine the condition of ali public water
supplies, and especially that of the family |
in which the patient is. The sewers and |
drainage should also be examined The |
contagious principle is contained solely in |
the eXcrementitious matters. If these
excavations are thoroughly disnfected
and buried in the ground there can be no
risk OF the disease spreading. Typhoid !
fever is not transmlssble through the at
mosEhere surrounding the patient, or
even by actual content with the body of
the patient Hence isolation is not neces-
sary, and no restrictions need be placed
upon intercourse with the family.
Selectmen are given power, by section
"'-f' W Hldhe Sucn regulations respecting
nulsances, sources Of filth and causes of
sickness, within their respective towns, as
they Judge necessary for the public
health" Whatever is dangerous to hu-|
man life or health, whatever renders soil,
air, food water, or other drink unwhole-
some, aud whatever building, erection, or
part or cellar thereof, is overcrowded, or
not provided with adequate means of in
gress and egress, or is not sufficiently sup
ported, ventilated, severed, drained, clean
ed or lighted, are really nuisances.